Boat test for the 2006 Viking Sport Cruisers V65 Express with boat pictures, boat specifications, and boat test results. Includes pricing, videos, engine test reviews, and ratings for the 2006 Viking Sport Cruisers V65 Express.

Even the galley has an inviting air: U-shape, it's at the base of a centerline stairway down to the lower deck, so its double-door refrigerator-freezer keeps the refreshments close at hand. A pair of elliptical ports will keep the space bright, and to make cleanup easy there's a Miele dishwasher alongside the Franke stainless steel sink. Every V65 comes with a full set of china, silverware, and glasses, so cabinets and drawers are built with custom-fit holders to keep things in place while underway.

The most private space in the yacht, of course, is the master stateroom, a secluded retreat that extends full beam amidships, with four oversize vertical ports on each side; more like a bay window than a row of portholes, they made the room feel even more spacious than its already generous proportions. As in the saloon, a variety of textures provided visual interest: Panels of leather and suede adorned portions of the walls, highlighting the cherry joinery and solid cherry moldings, while a pair of tall mirrors flanked the king-size centerline berth.

All three staterooms have en suite facilities with generously sized shower enclosures, Avonite countertops, and teak soles. The head for the third stateroom has a second doorway, so it can serve as a day head without compromising the privacy of the adjoining stateroom. The only fault I found in the interior fit and finish was a rattle in the shower doors. When I mentioned it to Viking's marketing director, Peter Frederiksen, he assured me that the problem had already been noted and that the doors were being replaced.

Even the engine room, which is accessed through a hatch hidden under the cockpit sunpad, felt welcoming. A vertical ladder leads down here (and also to the optional crew stateroom and head, which could otherwise serve as stowage space), and while having fuel tanks outboard of the big 1,360-hp MANs should've made the space feel cramped, with 6'4" headroom it actually seemed roomy. Engine-mounted filters are relocated so access to the outboard side is not a concern, and all other equipment is easily accessible.

With clear skies, warm sun, and delightfully low humidity, I could almost feel the V65 beckoning us to begin her sea trial. We eased her away from the dock and out the Fort Pierce inlet. From a standing start, I found her to be a bit sluggish getting up on plane, but once above 1800 rpm, she revved up quickly to a top speed of more than 44 mph. Bow rise was negligible, and she ran flat, trimming no more than four degrees throughout the full rpm range. She banked comfortably into high-speed turns with only minimal loss of speed and no discernable vibration or cavitation. Sightlines were good in all directions; only during a tight turn to starboard did I discover that visibility out the side windows was limited, as the hull banked tightly into the turn.

Her individually adjustable helm seats were comfortable, with good lateral support. And the retractable section in her hardtop let us take full advantage of the exceptionally pleasant Florida weather. If my visual inspection found the V65 inviting, the sea trial proved her to be positively captivating.

Viking Sport Cruisers
(609) 296-6000

PAGES:

1

2